Further Trouble for GBP as Manufacturing PMI Disappoints

British manufacturing PMI fell to the lowest levels in May 2019 in nearly three years as Brexit stockpiling ended.


British manufacturing PMI fell to the lowest levels in May 2019 in nearly three years as Brexit stockpiling ended. According to the Markit survey, UK manufacturing PMI slipped to 49.4 in May from 53.1 in April – clearly in contraction, and beating expectations which were for a reading of 52.0.

Export orders fell for a second consecutive month, touching the lowest since October 2014, driven as much by Brexit uncertainties as global tensions surrounding the ongoing trade war between US and several other countries.

According to the survey, most affected were the intermediate and investment goods industries. Rob Donson, Director at IHS Markit states, “A slowdown in the global economy, and trade wars hotting up could tip the scales even further next month and increase the likelihood that the UK manufacturing sector will remain in contraction territory.”

This data does not bode well for GBP/USD which suffered its biggest loss in value since May 2017 over ongoing Brexit uncertainties. At the time of writing, this forex pair is trading at around 1.26.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Arslan Butt
Index & Commodity Analyst
Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics.His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker.His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.

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